NATIONAL NEWS

India’s First Oil Palm Processing Unit

India's first integrated oil palm processing unit in Arunachal Pradesh started operation by one of India's largest oil palm development companies, 3F Oil Palm.

A new factory has been established in the Lower Dibang Valley district of India's northeast state.

This factory is part of Mission Palm Oil and is India's first oil palm factory under NMEO-OP.

The government's focus on Mission Palm Oil, with a special focus on the Northeast, aims to achieve self-reliance in edible oils and empower farmers to boost their income. The demand for edible oils is increasing and palm oil has become essential in ensuring the nation's food security.

The commencement of operations of the country's first oil palm processing unit aligns with encouraging domestic oil seed production.

The Northeast region has enormous potential for palm oil production, and the government plans to invest 1100 crores in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh by 2030, creating jobs for 1,700 people.

The Indian government launched the National Mission for Edible Oils - Oil Palm (NMEO-OP) in August 2021.

Global Spirituality Conference

The one-of-a-kind Global Spirituality Conference ever organised in India came to an end on 17 March 2024 in Hyderabad, Telangana.

The four-day conference, held from 14-17 March 2024, brought together spiritual leaders from all faiths at the world’s largest meditation centre, Kanha Shanti Vanam, Hyderabad.

The Union Ministry of Culture, in association with the Heartfulness Institute, organised the Global Spirituality Conference with the help of other organisations like The Art of Living Foundation, Ramakrishna Mission, The Mata Amritanandamayi Math, Parmarth Niketan, Archbishop of Hyderabad and others.

The Theme of the Global Spirituality Conference was ‘Inner Peace to World Peace'.

The theme highlights the conference's aim is to explore the evolution of consciousness and its impact on social harmony and sustainable development while creating a new trajectory for our global existence.

World Telecom Standardization Assembly Delhi 2024 (WTSA 2024)

India will be hosting the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA 2024) from 15-24 October 2024, preceded by the Global Standards Symposium (GSS 2024) on 14 October 2024

The eighth edition of the IMC, co-hosted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and COAI, will be held from October 15 to 24.

It will be held concurrently with the World Telecommunication Standardisation Assembly (WTSA 2024), preceded by the Global Standards Symposium (GSS 2024) on October 14, 2024, in New Delhi.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialised United Nations agency for information and communication technologies of which India is a part, conducts the WTSA every four years to plan its standardization programme.

Ashwini Vaishnaw also released new guidelines for Spectrum Regulatory Sandbox and Wireless Test Zones

Introduced by the DoT, the guidelines will enable the development of technology for using and improving the efficiency of greenfield spectrum bands.

Rajasthan Government Initiates Free Seed Kits Program

The Rajasthan government has taken the initiative to distribute free seeds of millets and coarse grains to farmers to enhance millet production in the state.

The government plans to provide free mini kits of various seeds to farmers, including maize, pearl millet (bajra), mustard, moong, sorghum (jowar), and moth seeds.

The distribution of free seed kits is set to begin in the next financial year.

The distribution is aimed at benefiting approximately 1.2 million farmers with maize seeds, 800,000 farmers with pearl millet (bajra) seeds, 700,000 farmers with mustard seeds, 400,000 farmers with moong seeds, and 100,000 farmers with sorghum (jowar) and moth seeds.

Rajasthan holds a significant share, accounting for 26% of the total millet production in the country.

The government initiated the Rajasthan Millet Promotion Mission in the fiscal year 2022-23.

A provision of Rs 40 crore was made to establish 100 primary processing units by farmers, entrepreneurs, and voluntary organizations.

The PM Kisan Samman Nidhi has been increased from Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000 per year per farmer.

 

BANKING

India and Asian Development Bank Ink $181 Million Loan

The Government of India (GoI) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a $181 million loan to build quality infrastructure and services toward improving urban livability and mobility in the peri-urban areas of Ahmedabad city.

Aim is to make peri-urban areas of Ahmedabad livable, environmentally sustainable, and efficient with robust physical and social infrastructure, a vibrant economy, and a distinct identity as a preferred investment destination.

The project involves the construction of various infrastructure components.

The project aims to benefit the urban poor, women, and migrant workers by providing improved urban services and governance.

Additionally, the project will focus on building the capacity of government agencies in financial planning, revenue enhancement, and infrastructure asset operations.

Arya.Ag Collaborated With Shivalik Bank

Grain commerce platform Arya.ag has partnered with Shivalik Small Finance Bank to assist farmers, agro-processors, and micro-enterprises financially.

Through this partnership, Arya.ag acts as a business correspondent for the bank to facilitate over ₹200 crore in warehouse receipt financing in the current financial year.

The initiative will help expand the bank’s reach, bringing essential funding to the agricultural ecosystem across India.

 

SPORTS

National Icon for Disabled of ECI

Ms. Sheetal Devi was declared the National Disability Icon of the Election Commission of India.

Para archer and Arjuna Awardee Sheetal Devi has been declared National Icon in the Disability category (PWD).

The Election Commission, in collaboration with the BCCI, organized an exhibition cricket match between the IDCA team and the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) team.

The match was held at the Karnail Singh Stadium in New Delhi.   

DDCA team won the match by 69 runs.

During this exhibition cricket match, Sheetal Devi was declared 'National Disability Icon'.

Indian Wells Tennis Masters Title

World number two ranked men’s tennis player Carlos Alcaraz and world number one ranked women's tennis player Iga Swiatek won the Indian Wells 1000 men’s and women's titles, respectively.

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev in the final of the Indian Wells ATP Master 1000 title, which was played at Indian Wells in California, United States.

Carlos Alcaraz became the second player after Rafael Nadal to win five Master 1000 titles before turning 21.

Iga Swiatek of Poland defeated Maria Sakkari of Greece to win her second Indian Wells WTA title.

 

APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Indian Oil Corporation's Director of Human Resources

Rashmi Govil has taken charge as Director (Human Resources) at Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IndianOil).

She joined IndianOil in 1994 and brings with her nearly three decades of rich experience in various facets of the human resources function.

She has pioneered the unique innovation cell 'Srijan', steered the roll-out of enterprise-wide SAP solutions in HR, and has led multiple landmark settlements with the collectives, including long-term wage settlements with the unions of IndianOil.

She has also worked at Indian Oil’s refineries headquarters, as well as handled the challenging environment at the unit at Mathura Refinery.

Prior to her appointment as Director (HR), she was serving as Executive Director (HRD & Employee Relations) at the company's corporate office.

 

DEFENCE

Joint military ‘Exercise Lamitiye-2024’

The 'Lamitiye' joint military exercise will be conducted in Seychelles from 18-27 March 2024.

The Indian Army contingent departed for Seychelles on 17 March 2024 to participate in a joint military exercise ‘Lamitiye-2024’ with Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF).

This exercise is the 10th exercise between the two countries.

'Exercise Lamitiye-2024' includes 'Indian Gorkha Rifles' and 'Seychelles Defence Force'.

'Limited War Exercise' is a biennial training programme.

45 military personnel from both the defence forces are participating in this exercise.

'Exercise Lamitiye-2024' aims to enhance interdiction operations in peri-urban scenarios under Chapter VII of the UN Charter.

The exercise will promote cooperation and interoperability between the two sides during peacekeeping operations.

The exercise will also build and promote bilateral military ties besides exchange of skills, experience and simulated exercises between the two armies.

 

IMPORTANT DAYS

Ordnance Factories Day

Ordnance Factories Day 2024 is observed on the 18th March

The East India Company of England, to increase their economic interest and political hold, considered manufacturing military hardware as a vital element.

The British authorities in 1775 established a Board of Ordnance in Fort William, Kolkata, which marks the official beginning of the Army Ordnance in India.

They further set up a gunpowder factory in 1787 at Ishapore, which started production in 1791.

In 1801, the British established a Gun Carriage Agency at Cossipore, Kolkata and production started on March 18, 1802.

This heralded the first industrial establishment of Ordnance Factories in India and they continue to operate to date.

 

OBITUTARY

Ex-Navy Chief Admiral Who Fought for Peoples' Rights, Laxminarayan Ramdas

Former Navy Chief Admiral (retired) Laxminarayan Ramdas passed away at the age of 90.

He joined the Joint Services Wing of the Armed Forces Academy in Clement Town, Dehradun in 1949.

He was commissioned as an officer of the Indian Navy in September 1953.

He served as the 13th Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) between December 1990 and September 1993

He served as Aam Aadmi Party's internal lokpal.

He commanded INS Beas, which had played a pivotal role during the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

He served as the Indian Naval Attache in Bonn, West Germany (1973-76) and as Fleet Commander of the Eastern Naval Command.

On 26 January 1989, he was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal.

He was awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Peace in 2004.